Blue Mountains News

Planning A Perfect Hiking Adventure In The Blue Mountains

Source: Jacqueline Ball

Posted: 7 Sep 2019

Hawkesbury is a fantastic destination if you love to put on your walking boots and see the great outdoors. With six national parks in the 3,000 km area, Hawkesbury is home to a vast range of flora and fauna.

Whether you're planning an off-track, overnight adventure or simply a long hike, you should always complete a trip intention form before you leave. It's also a good idea to carry a personal locator beacon (PLB) in case you get lost and need assistance. The Blue Mountains park is a big place, and it's easy to get disoriented. Make sure that you take a map and compass to help you find your route. If you're on a long hike, take plenty of water and water purification tablets. You should also take food and a good survival knife. This can be used for cutting back plants and wood, and will prove to be extremely useful on a wilderness trip. If you're staying overnight, you will of course need a tent for protection from the elements.

Hiking Katoomba

Katoomba is the central region of the Blue Mountains, and home to the spectacular Wentworth Falls. These are a short walk from the car park area, and there is a hiking trail around them with a spectacular viewing area. From here, you can head to Princes Rock Lookout for an incredible view, where you can see for miles - it is particularly worth visiting at sunrise or sunset. This is one of 20 lookouts that you can visit in Katoomba. A hike to see the incredible Three Sisters Rock formation is also worth the trip; it is a place of special significance to the Aboriginal people.

Hiking Blackheath

In the Blackheath area of the park, you will find the tallest waterfall - Govet's Leap Bridal Veil Falls, standing at an impressive 180m. You can hike from here down deep into the valley, past more waterfalls and areas of verdant swamp, abundant with wildlife. If you're something of a thrill-seeker, then one of the most incredible hikes in Blackheath is Burramoko Ridge, which you can get to easily from Ridgewell Road. The views are incredible; just stay away from the cliff top edges. From here, head to the Grand Canyon, where you will feel like you are walking through a luscious green jungle. Just make sure that you look out for the Golden Wattles.

You could spend weeks exploring the Blue Mountain National Park and never get tired of the magnificent landscape. The views are spectacular, and the waterfalls awe-inspiring, and you can see it all when you are hiking.